Applied Nuclear Physics and Technology University of Cambridge

Overview

The PhD course in Applied Nuclear Physics and Technology will provide an excellent and inclusive training programme in applied nuclear physics that will graduate highly skilled PhD students in support of the UK’s growing nuclear energy and defence requirements into the next decades. The programme’s research philosophy will address strategic and sovereign UK priorities in civil and defence nuclear, e.g. developing/validation of nuclear physics codes; addressing gaps and uncertainties in datasets that support fuel performance, containment and criticality safety cases; support to advanced reactor challenges; validation of isotopic inventories for spent fuel and Plutonium disposition; waste storage and disposal; AI use in applied nuclear physics; ensuring abilities to ‘control, cool and contain’ and cross-section measurements at elevated neutron energies.

Learning outcomes

The course aims to:

• Provide technical and professional skills development through engaging industry and academic experts in nuclear physics and nuclear engineering;

• Future-proof careers by emphasising the increasing importance of data science and AI;

• Provide high quality, curiosity-driven research projects co-created by industry and academia that tackle research questions of high priority to UK industry and defence;

• Enable access to world-leading infrastructure such as the n_TOF (Neutron Time of Flight) and ISOLDE (Isotope Separator On Line DEvice) facilities at CERN; and

• Generate industry-ready graduates by offering placement opportunities that allow students to broaden their experience.